In her book Put Comfortable Shoes in My Coffin, Jennifer McCloskey and her mother and writing partner Mary Rey Girardi share a treasure trove of small stories with huge heart.

Jen has been a motivational speaker and trainer across the country since 1986, and she created this book as a reminder of the numerous heroes surrounding us. “I have always been surprised by the number of books sold that only depict pain and heartache. I wanted my children to read real stories about people who succeed through trying times, and how they mastered the art of obtaining resources, embracing teamwork, and garnering inner strength, while working toward a greater good, something greater than themselves.”

We all have living legends, currently surrounding us. We don’t need to look only to the famous or the wealthy as our models of strength, but we can observe inner strength through our daily interactions, even in our own households or, maybe, in the next room. If we can’t see them, all we need to do is open our eyes a little wider. This book lifts the spirits of the listener and brings more positivity and hope to the world.

Jennifer speaks at civic organizations, schools, and corporate events to discuss ways we can all be heroes in our daily lives and how to recognize our own personal heroes every day.